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APIs & Web Services

Twelfth graders learn how modern apps talk to each other through APIs — sending requests to endpoints and getting back responses (often as JSON) — the glue that connects the software behind maps, weather, payments, and more.

Grade 12Networks & the Internet55 minutes1 class periodUse → Modify → CreateExplicit teaching4 StandardsCSTA
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Lesson at a Glance

Everything you need before the bell rings

Learning Objectives

Students will be able to…

  • ✓Explain an API.
  • ✓Know request & response.
  • ✓Understand JSON.
  • ✓Connect services.
Essential Question

When a weather app shows the forecast, it’s asking another service for data — through an API. How do APIs let programs talk to each other?

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Lesson Phases
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Vocabulary Terms
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Standards Aligned
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Interactive Task
Explore · Interactive

The APIs Explorer

Project this and tap each part. Have students learn how APIs let programs share data.

🔌 Explore APIs — tap eachTry it

The Lesson · Use → Modify → Create (a coding progression with Unplugged practice)

55 minutes, five moves

Tap any phase to open the teacher moves and student actions.

1

Hook — Apps Talking to Apps

6 min

A weather app asks another service for data through an API — how?

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Show an app pulling live data.
  • Ask where it comes from.
  • Set up.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Look.
  • Wonder.
  • Get ready.
2

Unplugged — Unplug It

11 min

Students practice.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Role-play request and response.
  • One student is the API.
  • Pass a “JSON” note.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Request.
  • Respond.
  • Pass it.
3

Use — Explore APIs

16 min

Students use.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Send students to the APIs Explorer.
  • Note request/response.
  • Note JSON.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Tap each.
  • Note them.
  • Explain.
4

Modify — Modify

13 min

Students modify.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Sketch a request to an API.
  • Predict the response.
  • Explain the endpoint.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Sketch it.
  • Predict.
  • Explain.
5

Create — Create

9 min

Students create.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Describe an API your app would use.
  • Name its data.
  • Complete the exit ticket.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Describe.
  • Name it.
  • Complete the exit ticket.
Standards Alignment

Built to the standards you report on

Aligned to the CSTA K-12 Computer Science Standards (Level 3) and ISTE Standards.

CSTA
3B-AP-16

Use APIs and libraries.

CSTA
3B-AP-15

Analyze how data is exchanged.

CSTA
3A-AP-19

Use third-party services.

ISTE
5

Computational Thinker.

Differentiation

One lesson, every learner

Multilingual Learners

ELL / EMERGING READERS
  • API-part cards.
  • Sentence frame: “An API ___.”
  • Role-play a call.

Support & Access

IEP / 504
  • Start with request and response.
  • Use the role-play.
  • Name one part.

Stretch & Extend

GIFTED / EARLY FINISHERS
  • Read a real JSON response.
  • Call a public API.
  • Explain REST.
Materials

What to gather

  • 📽️Projector / board
  • 📨Request/response cards
  • 💻The APIs Explorer
  • 📦A sample JSON file
  • ✏️Pens
  • 🎫Exit-ticket slips
Vocabulary

Key terms — hover for a quick definition

APIa way for programs to share datarequestasking an API for dataresponsewhat the API sends backendpointa URL that receives requestsJSONa data format for APIsweb servicea service accessed onlinedatainformation exchangedintegrationconnecting services
Evaluate

Exit Ticket

Preview the three formative checks. Tap “Sample answer” to see what mastery looks like — hide them before you print for students.

QUESTION 1
What is an API?
A way for two programs to talk to each other and share data.
QUESTION 2
What does an app send to an API?
A request asking for data or an action.
QUESTION 3
What format do APIs often use to send data?
JSON.

Create: connect the services.

Have students describe an app idea and one API it would use to get data. A printable APIs sheet is in the Computer Science library.

Study · Flashcards

Study the key terms

Tap a card to flip it, then rate whether you knew it. Built from this lesson’s vocabulary.

🃏 APIs & Web ServicesFlip
Card 1
Term
Tap to flip →
Meaning
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Nice work!

Practice · Quiz

Check your understanding

A quick self-check with instant feedback, drawn from this lesson’s key terms.

📝 APIs & Web ServicesQuiz
Score: 0
1 / 6
Question 1
0%

Nice work!

Practice · Worksheet

Printable worksheet

A print-and-go review sheet with a built-in answer key. Tap “Show answer key” to reveal answers, or print the clean version for students.

🖨️ APIs & Web ServicesPrint
Name: ________________________
Date: ____________

Part A · Write the word that matches each meaning

Word bank: API, data, endpoint, integration, JSON, request, response, web service
  1. information exchanged
  2. a URL that receives requests
  3. asking an API for data
  4. a way for programs to share data
  5. what the API sends back
  6. a data format for APIs
  7. a service accessed online
  8. connecting services

Part B · Show what you learned

  1. What is an API?
  2. What does an app send to an API?
  3. What format do APIs often use to send data?
Answer key — Part A: 1) data · 2) endpoint · 3) request · 4) API · 5) response · 6) JSON · 7) web service · 8) integration
Part B: 1) A way for two programs to talk to each other and share data. 2) A request asking for data or an action. 3) JSON.